Page 62 of Spring Break Fling

“We didn’t go out.”

“Aha!” Jess exclaimed. “She stood you up!”

“She didn’t stand me up. We had a… picnic.”

Both Diego and Jess exchanged a look. “You had a picnic?” Diego asked with surprise.

“Holy shit. That sounds serious.”

“This is why I don’t tell you guys things,” I said, shaking my head.

“Dude, that’s romance territory,” Diego said. “How did it go?”

“Fine.”

“I’m guessing by the sourpuss face, he didn’t get his goodnight kiss,” Jessie teased, shooting me a smirk that made me want to fling my sketchbook at her.

“Can you two shut up for five minutes?” I snapped, throwing my towel down. “You’re like two hens clucking.”

Jessie held her hands up, feigning innocence. “Whoa there, big guy. Don’t take your bad date energy out on us.”

“It wasn’t a bad date,” I grumbled.

Diego snorted. “You come in here looking like someone stole your bike, and you expect us to believe that?”

“I don’t give a shit what you believe.”

“Dude, did you fail in the sex department?” Diego joked. “Don’t worry, it happens to all of us. Whiskey dick is real.”

I glared at him. “Maybe I just don’t feel like sharing every detail like it was my first date with a woman.”

Jessie waggled her eyebrows. “Or maybe you don’t feel like dealing with the fact that you’re catching feelings. Maybe the problem isn’t that it was a bad date. The problem is it was a good one.”

That did it. “You know what? Screw this. I’m taking a break.”

Diego shrugged, clearly unbothered. “Cool. Bring us back some donuts while you’re at it.”

I flipped him off on my way out the back door, their laughter following me like a bad smell.

The rear parking lot was quiet, save for the distant hum of traffic. I lit a cigarette and leaned against the brick wall, exhaling smoke into the humid air.

I rarely smoked, but I always kept a couple cigarettes on hand for a quick fix. Usually, I just needed a drag or two to smooth out the rough edges. I closed my eyes, thinking about Jess’s words.

Catching feelings. The idea was ridiculous. Hannah was just another woman. But then, why the hell did I plan a picnic for us? Why did I care so much about impressing her with my choice of cheese and wine? I pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling a headache starting to form.

I flicked the cigarette butt onto the pavement, watching as it sparked. I stomped it out with my boot. I turned to see Marcus standing a few feet away, his phone pressed to his ear. I opened my mouth to say something, but he held up a finger, signaling he’d be a minute. The look on his face was serious. I waited until he finished his call to find out what was going on now.

“Detective,” he said, slipping his phone into his pocket.

I raised an eyebrow. “Something new about the break-in?”

He nodded, pulling his phone out again and tapping the screen. “Yeah. They’ve got a suspect in custody.”

He turned the phone toward me. “They sent me a picture to see if I recognized him. I don’t know him. Do you?”

I took the phone and shielded the screen from the sun to get a better look. My eyes widened, then squinted as I leaned in.

“You know him?” Marcus asked, watching my reaction.